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Village honors recipients of Purple Heart medal
Gary Alan Ruse | Miami's Communities Newspapers
The Village of Palmetto Bay honored veterans who have received the Purple Heart during a ceremony hosted by the American Legion Marlin Moore Post 133 and the Military Order of the Purple Heart Veterans on Sunday Aug. 7.
A proclamation designating the village as a Purple Heart City was presented.
Its purpose was to express the village’s gratitude for “all the brave men and woman who have selflessly served our country in the Armed Forces especially those who have been injured or have given their lives.”
More than 100 people attended the ceremony that featured public officials, American Legion officers, decorated veterans and family members. Mayor Eugene Flinn;Vice Mayor John Dubois; Councilmembers Karyn Cunningham, Tim Schaffer and Larissa Siegel Lara; village attorney Dexter Lehtinen, Miami-Dade District 8 Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava, and U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen all took part in the ceremony and each spoke to the attendees.
Captain Paul Amato, a village resident, Adjutant of Post 133, and a recipient of the Purple Heart, was the emcee along with Post Commander Billy Richards, who said that they were grateful for the recognition.
“This city does such a good job and we appreciate everything they do,” Richards said.
Captain Amato, a Vietnam veteran, was pleased with the mayor and council’s efforts on their behalf.
“I think it’s a great patriotic gesture on their part,” Amato said. “It was great seeing the World War II Purple Heart veterans who able to attend. Also, the village, together with the Marlin Moore Post 133, are working to establish a great veterans park with the first Gold Star Family memorial monument here in South Florida.”
Mayor Flinn presente the proclamation which said in part, “Whereas, many citizens of our community have earned the Purple Heart medal as a result of being wounded while engaged in combat with enemy forces, the Village of Palmetto Bay commends these individuals and wishes to recognize veterans who are recipients of the Purple Heart Medal. Now, therefore, I, Eugene Flinn, Mayor of the Village of Palmetto Bay, together with the Village Council of the Village of Palmetto Bay, am proud and honored to proclaim the Village of Palmetto Bay as a Purple Heart City honoring the service and sacrifice of our nation’s men and women wounded or killed by the enemy while serving to protect the freedom enjoyed by all Americans. I urge our citizens to join with me in recognizing this endeavor with the veterans of The American Legion Marlin Moore Post 133.”
Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava said she was going to try to get the other cities in her district to declare themselves Purple Heart cities as well.
American Legion Marlin Moore Post 133 is located at 16401 SW 90 Ave. in Palmetto Bay.